This is a listing of some common shortcut keys in different versions Microsoft Windows.
Some shortcut keys below are not supported in all versions of Windows.
The shortcut keys on this page are only applicable for Windows in general, if you are looking for shortcut keys for a specific application (i.e. Excel, Word, etc..) please see the links at the bottom of this page. Use at your own risk.

Shortcut Key

Supported Window Versions

Short Key Description

Alt + (double-click)

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Open Properties dialog of selected item.

Alt + Enter

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Opens properties window of selected item.

Alt + Esc

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Switch Between open tasks available on the taskbar.

Alt + F4

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Close the top (focused) window.

Alt + Tab

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Switch between open windows.

Alt + Tab + Shift

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Switch between open windows, backward.

Ctrl + Alt + Delete (or Del)

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Bring up the Windows Task Manager, or reboot computer.

Ctrl + Esc

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Bring up the Windows Start menu.

Ctrl + '+' ('+' key on the keypad)

98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Autofit the widths of all columns (if available) in current window.

Ctrl + F4

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Close sub window/tab.

Ctrl + Tab

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Switch between existing tabs (within a window).

Ctrl + Tab + Shift

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Switch between existing tabs (within a window), backward

F1

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Open Help for Windows or focused application.

F2

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Rename.

F3

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Find/Search.

F4

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Select drives or display the list of drives

F5

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Refresh.

F6

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Switch focus to the address bar (if exists).

F10

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Switch focus to the top menu bar.

Shift + F10

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Same as mouse right-click on the select item.

Print Screen

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Capture a screenshot of the entire desktop to clipboard.

Print Screen + Alt

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Capture a screenshot of just the top(focused) window to clipboard.

Shift + Delete (or Del)

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Permanently delete selected file(s)/folder(s) (bypass recycle bin)

Shift (hold while inserting an audio CD to drive)

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Prevent autoplay.

* (keypad) on Windows Explorer.

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Expand all sub-directories from the selected item.

+ (keypad) on Windows Explorer.

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Expand only the first level of selected item.

- (keypad) on Windows Explorer.

95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

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Most keyboards have a Windows Key (key with a Windows icon). This key provides additional shortcuts for Microsoft Windows. Below is a list of the shortcut keys by combining the Windows key and other keys.